Mondialiste likely to spurn Breeders' Cup Mile for Turf

Mondialiste is nearly certain to start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf instead of the Breeders’ Cup Mile, trainer David O’Meara said Thursday.

Mondialiste won the 1 1/4-mile Arlington Million, earning a fees-paid entry into the Turf and travel expenses from England to Santa Anita through the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, but he has been much more a miler type throughout his career than a horse suited to the Turf’s 1 1/2 miles. Last year, he finished second to Tepin in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

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The Mondialiste camp as recently as last week was leaning toward the Mile, which was listed as his connections’ first preference at pre-entry time. But O’Meara, who termed Mondialiste 90 percent likely for the Turf, said Thursday that after weighing options, it began to seem like the longer race offered Mondialiste his best chance.

“I think the way Santa Anita is riding right now, how fast it is, and how he’s learned to rate so well . . . I think the mile and a half will suit us,” O’Meara said. “In the Mile, I don’t think the front-runners are going to come back to us. It might not be a good race for a hold-up horse.”

O’Meara also confirmed that Suedois, pre-entered in both the Turf Sprint and the Mile, would be entered in the Turf Sprint.

If Mondialiste indeed goes in the Turf, it opens a starting spot in the Mile for Cougar Mountain, who is ranked first among nine pre-entered horses initially excluded from the main body of the race. The South American import Kitcat, who has a Win and You’re In berth in the Mile, was pre-entered with first preference for the Filly and Mare Turf, which would open a spot for Home of the Brave in the Mile.